Duerksen, Abram (1920-2008)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2008 Aug p. 27

Birth date: 1920 Feb 28

text of obituary:

ABRAM DUERKSEN

Abram Duerksen died Mar. 4, 2008. He was born Feb. 28, 1920 in Rudnerweide, Ukraine to Kornelius and Maria Duerksen. After his father was taken away by the communist authorities, Abram helped make a living in his father's machine shop. He came to Germany after World War II, where he met Erna Welke. They married in 1948, after both families moved to Paraguay. They pioneered in Steinfeld. Abram also had a blacksmith shop. It was a difficult life and in 1957 they moved to St. Catharines, Ont., where he worked at Boese Canning Factory, then Girotti Machine Works. He was baptized in Paraguay but recommitted his life to God at Scott St. MB Church in 1967. He was a hard-working, faithful father with a strong character and sense of fun. He leaves to mourn Erna; children Elsa (Ed) Dyck, Lydia (Walter) Plett, Erna (George) Storm, Kornelius (Angela), Harry (Ziggy), Marianne (Tony) Toews; 20 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 siblings. The funeral was Mar. 7 at Scott St. MB Church.